Opposition parties seek removal of LDP lawmaker after trip to China

Opposition parties are calling on Japan’s parliament to remove a senior Upper House lawmaker from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) after her visit to China in April resulted in the cancellation of a committee session. As the chairwoman of the Upper House Environment Committee, Yoriko Kawaguchi is expected to be dismissed from the position this week in what would be the first such action to ever be taken by the opposition-controlled Upper House.

Kawaguchi, a former foreign minister, was on a scheduled trip to China on April 23 and 24 of this year in order to attend an international conference. The lawmaker had parliament’s approval for these two days, but without permission or prior notice she extended the trip by one day in order to meet a senior Chinese official. In addition to taking place during escalated tensions between the two countries over an ongoing territorial dispute in the East China Sea, Kawaguchi’s trip extension forced the environment committee to cancel a session meeting on April 25.

On the trip, Kawaguchi met with Chinese foreign policy official State Councilor Yang Jiechi. While she apologized for causing trouble, she also explained her actions to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is also the head of the LDP, and said she felt it was in Japan’s interests to meet with Yang. LDP Secretary General Shigeru Ishiba and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga have both defended Kawaguchi’s actions, adding that she was trying to address the tensions with China. However, seeing as how the LDP currently has control of the Lower House, and with the fear that they will gain control of the Upper House in this summer’s elections, this commotion over Kawaguchi’s violation of parliament rules could be little more than grasping at straws by opposition parties.

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Thebigbopper13

It looks like its time to shoot the peacemakers!!!

-observer-

She was trying to kick start the peace process and de-escalate the situation. Looks like ABE and his Right-wing cronies want to keep up with the heat. PM ABE is an idiot, his revision of JP stance of Comfort women was shot down by the US. Only time will tell how this politcal tale will end.

Taiwanese

Guys, it’s really a symbol of power struggle between LDP and opposition party before the election. You make it all wrong. Mrs Kawaguchi was a messenger not the peacemaker.
Opposition just took advantage of the fact that she didn’t get the permission from the upper house and that’s it.

Michael Craig

Well, boot her out anyway! One less Jimin!

http://www.slashgear.com Ewdison Then

It is all politics, everyone’s movement is on microscope during the pre-election time.

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